The Aryavarth Express
Kolkata: Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir showered praise on Sanju Samson after his stunning unbeaten 97 guided India to a memorable victory over the West Indies at Eden Gardens.
Samson’s match-winning knock powered the India national cricket team to a five-wicket win on Sunday, securing their place in the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His composed 97* also kept India’s hopes alive of retaining the T20 World Cup title on home soil.
Speaking after the match, Gambhir emphasised the importance of backing a player of Samson’s calibre.
“Sanju is a world-class player. We all know how good he is. It was all about backing him. When the team needed him the most, he showed his true potential. Hopefully, this is just the start, with two more important games to go,” Gambhir said.
The head coach lauded Samson’s calm approach, noting that the innings was built on classical cricketing strokes rather than brute force.
“I never felt he tried to over-accelerate. There was no muscling of the ball — just clean, normal cricketing shots. That’s the kind of talent he possesses. When a player feels in control and confident, it shows. He knew the wicket was good and the outfield was quick, but it was his skill and composure that stood out,” Gambhir added.
Gambhir also highlighted the significance of the innings for Samson personally, especially after a challenging series against the New Zealand national cricket team prior to the World Cup.
“People will always look at scores, but coming back into the side and delivering like this after a tough series takes character. We always believed in his potential,” he said.
Samson carried his bat through the chase — India’s highest successful run-chase in a T20 World Cup match at Eden Gardens. His unbeaten 97 is now the second-highest individual score by an Indian in T20 World Cups, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 82.
Interestingly, despite opening in 29 T20I and IPL run-chases previously, this was the first time Samson remained unbeaten until the end of the innings — a milestone that could mark a turning point in his international career.
